The road is ripe with traffic
She crosses at the lights,
There's a smudge in her mascara
A hole torn in her tights.
I wonder at her story
It is the poet's curse,
Imagined snippets of folks' lives
Come to me in verse.
A café in the high street
By caffeine's call I'm led,
That couple in the corner
Are they cheating, are they wed?
The gorgeous girl behind me
Sits with an older man,
"Dad" or "sugar daddy"?
Is she Suzy, is he Stan?
Back amidst the shoppers
Two lads sharing jokes,
Are they secret lovers
Or "Nuts" like blokey blokes?
A traffic warden's lurking
Pen poised for the kill,
What story will I give them
How will I work my will?
I pass an empty building
Its secrets I could tell,
I conjure ghostly goings on
Behind its crumbling shell.
A blanket in a doorway
Was this some pauper's bed?
Shall winter and its vagaries
Leave this vagrant dead?
The crossing gates are lowered
A packed train rushes by,
Thoughts of destinations
Whirl in my mind's eye.
A siren in the distance
Alerts my writer's mind,
Mayhap they'll be responding
To some gruesome find.
Places, objects, people
They're manna for my brain,
I have to write their stories
It is the poet's bane.
My feet have led me homeward
I'm back behind my door,
I hope I never lose this curse
But keep it evermore.
COPYRIGHT D M PAMMENT 27th JANUARY 2010
Comments
exogenesis | January 27, 2010 - 08:09
wow you rhyme excellently ,nice flow ,great poem ,vivid images .like this alot
Dynamaso | January 27, 2010 - 10:19
This reads like song lyrics - I can almost hear the tune. Nice one...
Tornado | January 27, 2010 - 15:28
I agree, great flow to this one. Just when I thought you were going to drop us off, you brought us on home.
Nathan Bednarek | January 27, 2010 - 15:29
An exceptional poem in my view! This piece shows that although the art of poetry can become a curse in a poet's life, it is nevertheless a beautiful, addictive curse that ensnares your mind, exploits your heart, scars your skin, but also brushes your cheek lightly with its grace and love. This poem expresses all of those things and I applaud you for it.
'Well done' just doesn't put it ;-)
Nathan.
shoe | January 27, 2010 - 15:33
You make it seem so easy, this rhyming lark,
I think you're stuck with it for life,:~D
kheldar | January 27, 2010 - 20:09
To the five of you, thank you so much for your lovely comments, compliments from ones piers, let alone from such great writers, is truly humbling. Thank you again,
Kheldar :--)
Silver Spun Sand | January 29, 2010 - 19:09
Gosh, I don't know how I missed this one, kheldar. Forgive me;-)
I can so identify with the sentiment of this...
Wonderfully crafted, as per usual.
Tina
kheldar | January 29, 2010 - 20:23
Of course I forgive you Tina, especially if you're gonna say things like "wonderfully crafted"
david xx :--)
P.S. Glad to have touched base with a fellow sufferer
Silver Spun Sand | January 29, 2010 - 22:09
You sure have, david. More than;-)
Have a peaceful weekend.
flutterby-baby | January 30, 2010 - 13:28
Love it, have read it over and over. Well done you! (:0)
kheldar | January 30, 2010 - 15:55
Thanks flutterby-baby, I glad you liked it :--)
Dave Flanagan | February 10, 2010 - 23:32
Excellent, really captures the essence of the observer; makes you wonder how so many can fail to see what is all around them every day?
Really enjoyed this one.
Dave
kheldar | February 11, 2010 - 11:59
Thanks dave :--)